Travel resources

Health & Safety

Which vaccinations are required for my particular trip?

The wide range of destinations we travel to presents varying degrees of medical risk. For example, a visitor to India might need certain immunizations that a visitor to Australia would not.

We are not physicians and cannot provide you with specific medical advice. We strongly encourage you to check with your personal physician or local travel clinic at least 6 weeks before embarking on your journey for up-to-date information regarding medical precautions and immunizations for your particular travel destination(s).

Will I be affected by high altitude?

Most destinations in our region present no altitude concerns whatsoever. However, the effects of high altitude may impact travelers in the Himalayan region or those crossing the passes of Central Asia. Click HERE for more information on the effects of traveling at high elevation.

Please discuss any concerns you have about traveling to high elevation with your Travel Specialist. If your itinerary includes high altitude locations, comprehensive information will be sent to you in your Sign Up packet.

Will I be in close contact with animals/livestock?

Depending on your itinerary, you may visit come in contact with domestic and wild animals. Many cities in Asia have populations of stray dogs, cats, monkeys or other animals—travelers should always keep their distance. Activities at farms and wildlife sanctuaries should be individually assessed. If you have concerns about your own safety/health or that of the animals, please speak to your guide directly. Some itineraries may include hands-on experiences with horses, camels and elephants. Again, questions of health or safety should be addressed directly with your guide.

You can read more about our stance on ethical elephant experiences here.

More comprehensive information will be sent to you upon sign up.

Shoud I be concerned about Zika Virus in Asia?

ATJ is aware that the Zika Virus has now been detected in several areas throughout Asia and the Pacific. We are in frequent contact with our in-country partners, the U.S Department of State, the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control to monitor the situation. We will update this information if the situation changes.

There have been only a handful of reported cases amongst billions of people that live in this part of the world. Most of these cases have been in very remote areas (where our travelers do not visit) that do not have access to preventative measures. Zika is only a serious concern for a very small percentage of our travelers, specifically pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant. It is only transmittable by sex/blood transfusion or a mosquito that is carrying Zika.

For most people, the illness is mild with symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes lasting less than a week. Some people do not have symptoms at all. However, a Zika Virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other serious birth defects. Pregnant women should postpone travel to areas where Zika has been reported and avoid unprotected sex with partners who may have been exposed to the virus.

There is currently no vaccine for Zika, so prevention is key. As with any other mosquito-born illness, travelers should be diligent about protecting themselves from mosquito bites, especially in areas where Zika has been reported:

If air conditioning is not available or you are sleeping outdoors, always sleep under a full-bed mosquito net

To prevent the spread of Zika through sexual contact:

If you have been diagnosed with, show symptoms of, or have any other reason to suspect you may be carrying Zika, use condoms with all partners until you receive clearance from a doctor

Couples of childbearing age should use condoms for extra protection while traveling in areas with Zika.

Women who become pregnant shortly after visiting a Zika impacted area should consult their doctor as soon as possible.

If you have questions or concerns about a trip you already have planned with us, please contact your Travel Expert directly.

If you are pregnant and already have travel plans underway with us, please contact your Travel Expert directly to discuss your options for postponement or cancellation. A ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ policy may qualify, however you will need to talk directly with your provider to determine. Currently our normal Terms & Conditions apply for all other travelers.

If you are thinking about planning a trip with us and have additional questions, please call or email us at 1-800-642-2742 or info@atj.com. Our expert Travel Specialists will respond directly.

For more information on Zika Virus, the following resources may be helpful:

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PAYMENT OF DEPOSIT INDICATES AGREEMENT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS & CONDITIONS; AND AGREEMENT TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN OUR APPLICATION, WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WHICH MUST BE SUBMITTED TO COMPLETE THE SIGN-UP PROCESS. ALL AMOUNTS AND REFERENCES ARE MADE ON A PER PERSON BASIS.

ELIGIBILITY
You must be 18 years old (except for minors accompanied by a parent or designated responsible adult) and in acceptable health to travel on one of our tours. Acceptance of your booking is subject to our review of your application. We retain the right to request medical clearance or any other information or to refuse any applicant for any tour at any time for any reason whatsoever, at our sole discretion.

INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS
Inclusions and exclusions for custom travel are detailed in your individual itinerary and for ATJ scheduled group trips in the group itinerary.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
For all travelers, deposits and payments (per person) are required as follows:
At time of booking:
• A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person, is due.

At time of confirmation:
• 50% of remaining land cost, per person, is due.
• For all airfare booked by ATJ (including flights within Asia), 100% of airfare costs are due.

60 days prior to departure:
• Final payment is due. If your booking is made within 60 days of departure, the entire cost of the trip must be paid at the time of confirmation in order to secure arrangements.

PAYMENT TERMS: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, wire transfer or personal check. It is simplest to make credit card payments online at www.ATJ.com/make-trip-payment. All other credit card payments require a signed credit card authorization form for each charge.

All trips are quoted and billed on a package basis. We cannot provide detailed cost breakdowns.

AIRFARE: All airfare is subject to change until ticketed. Tickets will be issued upon receipt of your full payment of airfare, due at time of confirmation.

You are required to provide us with your full name (first, middle and last name), gender and birth date, exactly as they appear on your passport. Failure to provide us with the correct information may result in significant airline penalties and increased fares for which you are responsible. In addition, ATJ will administer a $75 per person surcharge for any changes made after airline tickets have been booked.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: On all Small Group Trips, a single supplement must be paid under the following conditions:
1. If single accommodations are requested, (once requested, single supplement changes are not allowed without prior approval, or penalties may apply)
2. If we cannot match you with a same gender roommate.
3. If you reject your roommate either before or during the trip (a room of your own is not guaranteed in this instance, and is subject to availability).

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Your trip cost includes the following types of insurance:
• $200,000 per person for Emergency Medical Evacuation, Emergency Medical Repatriation and Return of Remains
• $300,000 per person for Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• $5,000 per person for medical care due to accident/sickness
*aggregate limit of $300,000 per person per claim

Additionally, check with your personal health insurance provider to make sure your policy covers you in all countries where you will be traveling. ATJ does not provide trip cancellation, interruption, air ticket cancellation, lost baggage or supplemental medical insurance. We highly recommend that you purchase this additional coverage. If using our recommended provider, Arch RoamRight, you must purchase your policy within 21 days of confirmation in order to cover any pre-existing conditions. Other carriers may have different terms for pre-existing conditions. Additional information will be sent at time of booking.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
We cannot vary from our stated refund policy regardless of your situation. For this reason, we recommend that you buy travel insurance immediately upon booking your travel arrangements. See Travel Insurance section above for more information.

Correspondence regarding land or air cancellation must be sent via email, mail or fax.

For all travelers, land cost cancellation fees (per person) are as follows:
• 60 days or more prior to departure: deposit or 25% of land costs, whichever is greater*
• 31-59 days prior to departure: 50% of land cost*
• Less than 30 days prior to departure: 100% of land cost

* There may be circumstances where non-refundable full payments or deposits have been made on your behalf for airfare, ship or other charters, hotel or other custom arrangements that will supersede the above policies.

AIRFARE: We cannot assume financial responsibility for losses incurred on any air ticket changes or any airfare cancellation fees, whether issued by ATJ or independently. We strongly recommend against the purchase of non-changeable and/or non-refundable air tickets.

ADDITIONAL FEES: If you cancel or reschedule your trip for any reason, we are not responsible for additional expenses incurred in preparation for the trip (i.e., visa fees, equipment, medical expenses, etc.)

PASSPORTS: We cannot assume financial responsibility for situations where an individual's passport is not valid for his or her itinerary. Per government requirements, all travelers must have a blank page for each country they will visit. Passports must be valid for 6 months BEYOND your trip return date.

VISAS/ENTRY PERMITS: We cannot assume financial responsibility for situations where a visa or entry permit for an individual is denied, restricted or not obtained in a timely manner. We strongly urge you to confirm your visa arrangements and requirements with the appropriate embassy, consulate or reputable visa service prior to travel.

SMALL GROUP TRIPS and CUSTOM TRIPS: We retain the right to cancel any itinerary prior to departure. In such case, full refund of all monies paid toward land cost and airfare only booked by ATJ as part of the itinerary constitutes full settlement. We are not responsible for change or cancellation fees for any airfare other than that booked by ATJ as part of the itinerary. Whether purchased independently or through ATJ, we strongly advise against the purchase of non- changeable and/or non-refundable air tickets.